Sussex Mindfulness Centre

Mindfulness eight-week course: Wednesday afternoons
2025-10-15 15:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Online
This course is designed to help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course.

Overview​

This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

Who is it for?

This course is intended for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

When?

Wednesday afternoons from 3pm to 5pm starting on 22 October and running to 17 December 2025, (no session 29 October). The orientation session is on Wednesday 15 October.

There is an optional online all-day retreat on 6 December.

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course will involve:

Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes

Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have

Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises

An optional one-day online retreat

The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

Facilitator

Taravajra

Taravajra

Taravajra has been teaching mindfulness in Sussex since 2005 to community groups, carers, teachers and NHS staff. Taravajra gained a Masters degree in mindfulness-based approaches in 2010 at Bangor University. Since 2011, he has been part of the core training team at Bangor, teaching on the Masters programme and teacher training pathway in the English and Spanish speaking worlds.

He holds a British Wheel of Yoga teaching diploma and is a Focusing practitioner. Since 2011 he has been one of the main trainers on the Sussex Mindfulness Centre’s teacher training programme.

Taravajra will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Andrea Jorge.

How to book

Please note, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form that will be sent to the facilitators. If you haven’t already, please head here to fill in the form.

he cost of the eight-week course is £250. We also offer a choice of two other options:

£275 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.

£225 – Supported rate, if you find yourself on a low income.

You can book here below

Mindful Self-Compassion course: eight weeks on Wednesday evenings
2025-10-15 18:15 - 21:00 | Online
Our eight-week Mindful Self-Compassion course teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to challenges and difficult emotions with care and understanding.

Overview​

How we respond to those around us is fundamental to a happy life. We are often encouraged to be kind to people. But in trying to show compassion towards others, we may forget to look after ourselves. Can we truly be kind to anyone else if we cannot be kind to ourselves?

In the Mindful Self-Compassion course we offer ways to meet our own challenges with greater care. Through the course we will learn how to be more mindful of our own feelings in response to others. And how this can help us to be more resilient in difficult situations. We also learn to be less judgemental and more caring. And we will see how this can reduce anxiety, leaving us more open to making helpful changes in our lives.

The course creates a safe, supportive environment. There are three core components:

mindfulness (being present with whatever is happening)

self-kindness (treating ourselves with care rather than criticism)

common humanity (recognising our suffering as part of the shared human experience)​

Some of the main topics we cover are:

handling difficult emotions

transforming the inner critic

cultivating core values

meeting unmet needs

The weekly sessions include:

guided meditations

short talks

discussion, including in small groups

experiential exercises

resources to support home practice

The course creators are Kristin Neff, researcher in the field of self-compassion. And Christopher Germer, leader in the integration of mindfulness and psychotherapy. They have each published books on the subject.

​ Find out more about our Mindful Self-Compassion course here.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for the general public, you do not need to have attended a mindfulness course before. Please note, this courses may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service.

When?

Wednesday evenings from 6.15pm to 9pm (BST). The course starts with a 1.5 hour orientation on 15 October 2025 at 6.15pm and then runs until 17 December 2025, including a retreat session. In total the course runs for 10 weeks. See below

Orientation: 15 October 2025 (1.5 hours)Session 1: 22 October 2025 (2.75 hours)Session 2: 29 October 2025 (2.75 hours)Session 3: 5 November 2025 (2.75 hours)Session 4: 12 November 2025 (2.75 hours)Retreat Session: 19 November 2025 (2.75 hours)Session 5: 26 November 2025 (2.75 hours)Session 6: 3 December 2025 (2.75 hours)Session 7: 10 December 2025 (2.75 hours)Session 8: 17 December 2025 (2.75 hours)

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

Orientation session of 1.5 hours.

Eight weekly two and three quarter hour classes with a 15 minute break in the middle

A two and three quarter hour retreat session.

The course follows the programme outlined in the Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. It is recommended that you buy this book to accompany the course, but it’s not essential.

Daily meditation home practice of up to 30 minutes is suggested.

Facilitators

Annie Akasati McAuley

Mindfulness meditation has been a source of creativity and joy throughout my life. I am a freelance mindfulness teacher and supervisor. I also work with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre, Suzy Bolt, and the Brighton Buddhist Centre. I am DBS checked and a registered member of the British Association of Mindfulness-based Approaches (BAMBA).

I write a monthly blog on themes related to mindfulness, compassion and wisdom. This is available on our website and other publications. I have a teaching background and have worked with adults and young people over four decades. I am an ordained Buddhist since 1999, leading courses and retreats using my Buddhist name, Akasati.

Julia Powell

Mindfulness has been a huge part of my life ever since I first attended a course in 2007. Having trained to teach with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre in 2017, I have been teaching mindfulness courses since then. Apart from Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, I am also trained to teach Mindfulness for Life, Finding Peace in a Frantic World and Mindful Self-Compassion. I offer 121 mindfulness coaching sessions, am a mindfulness teaching supervisor and run mindfulness courses for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre.

​

How to book

Please note we ask all those who book on this course to fill in an application form here that will be sent to the facilitators. If you haven’t already please head here to fill in the form.

Mindfulness teacher training information session
2025-10-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Are you interested in teaching Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy or Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction? Or perhaps you would like to include mindfulness-based interventions in your current work with clients? Either way, this session will provide all you need to know about various training options with us.

What’s included

The session will be led by Fergal Jones, Sussex Mindfulness Centre’s teacher trainer convenor. It will include a short overview, and you will have the opportunity to get your questions answered.

Book your place

Book your place by emailing spft.smc@nhs.net and you will be sent a joining link.

Moment to pause - Free lunchtime mindfulness session
2025-11-11 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-12 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Work and life can feel so busy that you don’t have a spare moment to think, plan or just experience the moment. Join a one-hour lunchtime session to experience how mindfulness can bring space and new perspectives.

Overview

Mindfulness offers a chance to pause. It can help you manage stress and difficulties, reflect on what’s most important to you and learn how to take better care of yourself.

This one-hour lunch-time session will give you a pause in the day to experience the benefits of practicing mindfulness. You will be guided through the basic principles of mindfulness and will sample a range of different practices. Over time these practices can help you build the capacity to experience life differently. Mindfulness can work for you as an individual and for your team or service.

Who is it for?

These sessions are for you if you are:

Would like to take a moment to pause in the middle of the day.

Are returning to mindfulness and want a refresh / reminder about what is involved.

Completely new to mindfulness and meditation and want to try it out.

Where?

Online on Zoom

For all mindfulness work, the connection between people in the group is central to the discovery and learning process. Please ensure the camera on your device is turned on during the session and try your best to join from a quiet, private space, if possible. We’re aware that the session is during lunchtime. Feel free to bring something to eat during the discussion if you’d like.

Mindfulness teacher training information session
2025-11-13 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-11-18 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Are you interested in offering mindfulness-based interventions in your current work with clients? Or perhaps teaching the eight-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy or Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course? Either way, this session will provide all you need to know about the various training options with us.

What’s included

The session will be led by Fergal Jones, Sussex Mindfulness Centre’s teacher trainer convenor. It will include a short overview, and you will have the opportunity to get your questions answered.

Book your place

Book your place by emailing spft.smc@nhs.net and you will be sent a joining link.

Mindful creative all-day retreat
2025-11-29 10:00 - 17:00 | Sussex Education Centre, Hove, West Sussex, United Kingdom
The cracks are how the light gets in: a day retreat drawing on your creativity

A one-day mindfulness retreat, including meditation practices, creative expression and journaling. Experience of creative expression is not necessary.

Background to the day

We are sometimes advised in retreat situations to not do anything, including not to draw, paint or write. Simplifying, and completely letting go of any kind of doing has so much value. However, it can also be very rich to be with and express what comes up creatively, allowing that to further enrich our practice. Creating can help us connect with less conscious, less rational parts of ourselves. It can also help us to trust and receive the unfolding of our experience through whatever medium we are using. This can help us come alive and connect with ourselves and the world, to express what emerges from our practice and to deepen it.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, a well-known and highly-respected meditation teacher says:

“Art can be the most supportive part of what one does in life with meditation practice. Art enriches the practice, and in the end, meditation practice and art become united. This is the goal of all practitioners: what we practice in meditation becomes our life…..there is no reason to see a conflict between art and meditation practice. Of course, you might want to spend more time doing one or the other but, please, never see them in conflict. See them as supportive of one another. Both have connections, passions, fulfilment and joy which, together, make us whole. This wholeness of being is the true accomplishment of a full life.”

Content of the day

This day will be held as a mostly silent retreat day with mindfulness practices interspersed with creativity, using clay, drawing/painting and journaling and poetry. Some meditation experience (such as having done an eight-week course) is required but no experience of artistic or creative work is needed. Materials will be supplied. The day will be held at the Sussex Education Centre in Hove.

Why a one-day retreat?

A one-day mindfulness retreat is an important part of the eight-week mindfulness course. It also offers an opportunity to extend your practice within a supportive environment. For people who meditate regularly the retreat offers a great way to deepen and refresh your practice. Read more about the benefits of a day long retreat.

This day retreat counts towards the requirement to attend silent retreats as part your BAMBA registration as a mindfulness teacher.

Who is it for?

This day is right for you if you have attended an eight-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Mindfulness for Life or Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, or have an established mindfulness practice. No artistic experience is required. Please note, this is not a clinical intervention and it is not advisable to do this day in the heat of a crisis, when it would be important to access your GP or your designated mental health clinician.

Retreat leaders

Robert Marx

Robert Marx is Co-Lead for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. He is a consultant clinical psychologist and Cognitive-Analytic psychotherapist, mindfulness (MBCT) and compassion-based (MSC) teacher. He has been co-running day retreats in Sussex Partnership twice a year for around 15 years and more recently, 5 day residential mindfulness retreats. Painting and writing have also been important to him and he has incorporated both into his own personal retreats.

Sarah Marx

Sarah Marx has been working therapeutically with adults, children and families for the past 20 years. Originally trained as an adult therapist and then as a Child and Adolescent psychotherapist, Sarah has worked in the NHS, university counselling services, schools, colleges and private practice. She has trained in multiple therapy modalities, including psychodynamic, Cognitive-Analytic and mindfulness (MBCT), Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), EMDR and Theraplay. Wanting to incorporate the transformative nature of creativity into her clinical work, Sarah qualified at the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE) where she went on to teach. She has worked as a trainer for Trauma Informed Schools UK and is part of the leadership team at Beacon House. She is also a ceramicist and has exhibited locally.

Certificate of attendance

Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day, if requested. Please note, you’ll need to attend for the whole day. It’s not possible to only come for a portion of the day. The retreats run from 10am to 5pm, and we ask people to join from 9.45am to ensure a prompt start.

Ticket price

The cost for the day is £30 to help us cover materials. If this is prohibitive let us know and we can make a few spaces free, or by a small donation. You can book here below.

Waiting list

The session is now full. If you would like to be added to the waiting list we can let you know if a space becomes available. Please drop us a line at spft.smc@nhs.net

One-day online mindfulness retreat
2025-12-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Online
This one-day online mindfulness retreat offers an opportunity to extend and deepen your mindfulness practice, within a supportive environment.

Content of the day

The day will be facilitated by the Sussex Mindfulness Centre’s teachers and will include a series of different mindfulness and compassion practices. It will be held mostly in silence as a way of supporting your practice. As this retreat is online you will be given guidance about how to create retreat like conditions at home.

Why a one-day retreat?

A one-day mindfulness retreat is an important part of the eight-week mindfulness course. It also offers an opportunity to extend your practice within a supportive environment. For people who meditate regularly the retreat offers a great way to deepen and refresh your practice. Read more about the benefits of a day long retreat.

Who’s it for?

This day is right for you if you have attended an eight-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Mindfulness for Life or Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, or have an established mindfulness practice.

Please note, this is not a clinical intervention and it is not advisable to do this day in the heat of a crisis, when it would be important to access your GP or your designated mental health clinician.

Certificate of attendance

This all-day retreat counts towards the requirement to attend silent retreats as part your BAMBA registration as a mindfulness teacher. Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day’s training, if requested.

Please note, you’ll need to attend for the whole day. It’s not possible to only come for a portion of the day. The retreats run from 10am to 4pm, and we ask people to join from 9.45am to ensure a prompt start.

Reserving your place

This retreat is free to attend, but we would be very grateful for any donations you can spare to help us fund our community courses for disadvantaged populations. You will be invited to add a donation when you book. If you have enquiries please drop us a line at spft.smc@nhs.uk.

To secure your place you can book here:

Mindfulness eight-week course: Tuesday evenings
2026-01-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Online
This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course .

Overview​

This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

Who is it for?

This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

When?

Tuesday evenings from 5.30-7.30pm starting on 20 January and running to 17 March 2026. (No session 3 February). The orientation session is on Tuesday 13 January.

To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions (see above dates) then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course will involve:

Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have

Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes

Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises

An optional one-day online retreat

The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

Facilitator

Ruth Sequeira

Ruth Sequeira is as senior trainer, supervisor and mindfulness teacher for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. She is also a psychological therapist and the Mindfulness and Compassion Training and Retreat Lead at the Mindfulness Network. Ruth has a history of working in mental health services and until recently worked as a clinical lead in the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Sussex. Ruth has a longstanding interest in mindfulness, meditation and movement, and is passionate about increasing access to mindfulness courses in different populations.

As a BAMBA UK registered teacher, she follows the Good Practice Guidelines, receives supervision for her teaching, and attends regular retreats and training.

Ruth Sequeira will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Dorota Szarecka.

How to book

Please note, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form that will be sent to the facilitators. If you haven’t already, please head here to fill in the form.

The cost of the eight-week course is £250. We also offer a choice of two other options:

£275 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.

£225 – Supported rate, if you find yourself on a low income.

You can book here below

Mindfulness eight-week course for SPFT staff: Tuesday evenings
2026-01-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Online
This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course .

Overview​

This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

Who is it for?

This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

When?

Tuesday evenings from 5.30-7.30pm starting on 20 January and running to 17 March 2026. (No session 3 February). The orientation session is on Tuesday 13 January.

To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions (see above dates) then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course will involve:

Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have

Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes

Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises

An optional one-day online retreat

The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

Facilitator

Ruth Sequeira

Ruth Sequeira is as senior trainer, supervisor and mindfulness teacher for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. She is also a psychological therapist and the Mindfulness and Compassion Training and Retreat Lead at the Mindfulness Network. Ruth has a history of working in mental health services and until recently worked as a clinical lead in the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Sussex. Ruth has a longstanding interest in mindfulness, meditation and movement, and is passionate about increasing access to mindfulness courses in different populations.

As a BAMBA UK registered teacher, she follows the Good Practice Guidelines, receives supervision for her teaching, and attends regular retreats and training.

Ruth Sequeira will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Dorota Szarecka.

How to book

Please fill in the application form here . We will be in touch once your place is confirmed.

Free mindfulness taster
2026-01-20 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-25 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-03-26 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-04-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Are you considering whether mindfulness is for you? Join our free online taster session. This one-hour taster session will introduce you to the benefits of mindfulness. Benefits include improved wellbeing and ability to manage stress.

Is your mind over active? Do you find you can’t turn off? Are you running on empty, unable to appreciate things that previously made you happy? Are relationships more fraught than they were?

Perhaps it’s time to try mindfulness.

Brief overview

In this informative one-hour online session, you will:

Learn what mindfulness is

Meet one of our teachers

Try short-guided meditations

Discover the benefits of mindfulness

Find out about our short introductory mindfulness and beginner courses

Ask any questions about mindfulness and what your next step might be

This session is for you if:

You are completely new to mindfulness and meditation and want to try it out.

Are returning to mindfulness and want a refresh / reminder about what is involved.

Are wondering how mindfulness might help your team and colleagues at work.

Are familiar with mindfulness but keen to know what the Sussex Mindfulness Centre can offer.

Where?

Online on Zoom

For all mindfulness work, the connection between people in the group is central to the discovery and learning process. Please ensure the camera on your device is turned on during the session and try your best to join from a quiet, private space. Thank you.

Mindfulness eight-week course for SPFT staff: Wednesday evenings
2026-01-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course .

Overview​

This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

Who is it for?

This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

When?

Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm starting on 28 January and running to 25 March 2026. (No session 18 February). The orientation session is on Wednesday 21 January.

To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions (see above dates) then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course will involve:

Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have

Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes

Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises

An optional one-day online retreat

The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

Facilitator

Nicky Mouat

Nicky is a Registered Nurse and Mental Health Practitioner with more than thirty years of experience working in both mental health and general nursing for the NHS and equivalent, in the UK and Australia.

She completed her mindfulness training at the Sussex Mindfulness Centre in 2015 after finding mindfulness practice transformative in her personal life. She is now a freelance mindfulness practitioner and teaches mindfulness for wellbeing, depression, addiction, and long-term health conditions in the NHS and charity settings. She is also a supervisor, assessor and trainer of mindfulness teachers. She has a Masters Degree in Medical Anthropology, and specialised in how experiences of trauma are experienced and communicated across cultures.

As a BAMBA UK registered teacher, she follows the Good Practice Guidelines, receives supervision for her teaching, and attends regular retreats and training.

Nicky Mouat will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Georgie Hobbs.

How to book

Please fill in the application form here . We will be in touch once your place is confirmed.

Mindfulness eight-week course: Wednesday evenings
2026-01-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course .

Overview​

This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

Who is it for?

This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

When?

Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm starting on 28 January and running to 25 March 2026. (No session 18 February). The orientation session is on Wednesday 21 January.

To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions (see above dates) then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course will involve:

Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have

Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes

Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises

An optional one-day online retreat

The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

Facilitator

Nicky Mouat

Nicky is a Registered Nurse and Mental Health Practitioner with more than thirty years of experience working in both mental health and general nursing for the NHS and equivalent, in the UK and Australia.

She completed her mindfulness training at the Sussex Mindfulness Centre in 2015 after finding mindfulness practice transformative in her personal life. She is now a freelance mindfulness practitioner and teaches mindfulness for wellbeing, depression, addiction, and long-term health conditions in the NHS and charity settings. She is also a supervisor, assessor and trainer of mindfulness teachers. She has a Masters Degree in Medical Anthropology, and specialised in how experiences of trauma are experienced and communicated across cultures.

As a BAMBA UK registered teacher, she follows the Good Practice Guidelines, receives supervision for her teaching, and attends regular retreats and training.

Nicky Mouat will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Georgie Hobbs.

How to book

Please note, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form that will be sent to the facilitators. If you haven’t already, please head here to fill in the form.

he cost of the eight-week course is £250. We also offer a choice of two other options:

£275 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.

£225 – Supported rate, if you find yourself on a low income.

You can book here below

Mindfulness eight-week course for SPFT staff: Friday mornings
2026-01-23 09:30 - 11:30 | Online
This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course .

Overview​

This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

Who is it for?

This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

When?

Friday mornings from 9.30 to 11.30 starting on 30 January and running to 20 March 2026. The orientation session is on Friday 23 January.

To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions (see above dates) then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course will involve:

Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have

Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes

Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises

An optional one-day online retreat

The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

Facilitator

Robert Marx

Robert is Co-Lead (Training) for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. He is a consultant clinical psychologist and has been involved in running mindfulness groups for staff and patients since 2006. He also trains and supervises others doing mindfulness work. He is interested in relational mindfulness and in adaptations of Mindfulness-based Interventions using compassion practices.

Robert Marx will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Sadie Lunn.

How to book

Please fill in the application form here . We will be in touch once your place is confirmed.

Mindfulness eight-week course: Friday mornings
2026-01-23 09:30 - 11:30 | Online
This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course .

Overview​

This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

Who is it for?

This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

When?

Friday mornings from 9.30 to 11.30 starting on 30 January and running to 20 March 2026. The orientation session is on Friday 23 January.

To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions (see above dates) then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course will involve:

Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have

Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes

Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises

An optional one-day online retreat

The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

Facilitator

Robert Marx

Robert is Co-Lead (Training) for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. He is a consultant clinical psychologist and has been involved in running mindfulness groups for staff and patients since 2006. He also trains and supervises others doing mindfulness work. He is interested in relational mindfulness and in adaptations of Mindfulness-based Interventions using compassion practices.

Robert Marx will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Sadie Lunn.

How to book

Please note, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form that will be sent to the facilitators. If you haven’t already, please head here to fill in the form.

he cost of the eight-week course is £250. We also offer a choice of two other options:

£275 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.

£225 – Supported rate, if you find yourself on a low income.

You can book here below

Mindful Self-Compassion teacher training information session
2026-01-26 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
Are you interested in teaching the eight-week Mindful Self-Compassion course? Or would you like to integrate mindfulness and self-compassion into your professional activity (i.e., psychotherapy, coaching, nursing, teaching, etc.)? Join this session to find out what’s involved.

What’s included

This session will provide all you need to know about the different steps leading to you being able to teach Mindful Self-Compassion. Zoe Shobbrook-Fisher, who is one of the trainers on the teacher training course, will be leading the session. The session will include a short overview, after which there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Book your place

Book your place by emailing spft.smc@nhs.net and you will be sent a joining link.

Compassionate Leadership Training for health and social care leaders on Monday afternoons
2026-02-09 15:00 - 17:00 | Online
Compassionate leadership is linked with improved learning and innovation, and reduced staff stress, injuries and absenteeism, and even reduced patient mortality.

There are six online sessions on Mondays from 9 February until 16 March. Following this, there will be monthly follow-up sessions to review our learning and practice. The dates for this are currently being organised.

Overview

At the heart of compassion is the notion that everyone experiences difficulty, and that we can all play a role in alleviating our own difficulties and those of others. Whether this is compassion for ourselves, the people we lead, colleagues or service users. We won’t always feel like helping and will sometimes be tired or overwhelmed or unable to connect. Although it helps to have positive feelings, we do not have to feel compassion to be compassionate. We can recognise our physical and mental state, resource ourselves as best we can, and respond from our firm compassionate intention, rather than from impulse or intense emotion.

How does this translate into compassion in health and social care organisations? How might we think about compassionate leadership, working with colleagues, service users and their friends and families? Prof Michael West has spent his career answering this question, pointing to research that shows how compassionate leadership is linked with improved learning and innovation, and reduced staff stress, injuries and absenteeism, and even reduced patient mortality. In short, compassion is essential to high quality healthcare.

Dr Robert Marx and Professor Clara Strauss have designed a training programme of six weekly sessions, lasting two hours each.

Find out more about Compassionate Leadership Training here. Hear from participants who have done the training in this short video.

Who is the course for?

The course is for anyone in a leadership role within health and social care. It will combine experiential practice and reflection, as well as home practice to help cultivate compassion for ourselves and the people we lead.

Course requirements

To participate in this course you will need to be able to attend all six sessions. You will need to use Zoom and to be in a private space (not in an open plan office) with the camera on throughout the sessions. This will help you and others to feel more comfortable and able to participate freely. A link will be supplied ahead of the course starting so you can check your equipment is working.

Please take some time to check that the technical aspects of joining on the Zoom link all work for you and make sure you read the guidelines here ahead of the first session.

Certificate of attendance

Attendance is required for all six sessions of this course. If you attend a minimum of four sessions, you can request a Certificate of Attendance on completion of the course. You can request the certificate by dropping us a line at spft.smc@nhs.net.

Facilitators

Ruth Sequeira

Ruth Sequeira is a senior trainer, supervisor, and mindfulness teacher for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. She is also a psychological therapist and the mindfulness and compassion training and retreat lead at the Mindfulness Network. Ruth has a history of working in mental health services and until recently worked as a Clinical Lead in the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Sussex. Ruth has a longstanding interest in mindfulness, meditation and movement, and is passionate about increasing access to mindfulness courses in different populations.

Catherine Cameron

Catherine is a clinical psychologist working within the community-based eating disorders service. She has a particular interest in self-compassion in eating disorders treatments. She co-facilitates the mindful self-compassion course for staff with Robert Marx having trained to facilitate the MSC course in 2014 and before that running MBCT-based Mindfulness for Pain courses in Hove Polyclinic. She is also involved in the mindfulness all day retreats run for those who have attended the eight-week courses within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

As a BAMBA UK registered teacher, she follows the Good Practice Guidelines, receives supervision for her teaching, and attends regular retreats and training.

Waiting list

This course is now full. If you would like to be added to a waiting list, we can let you know if a space becomes available. We can also let you know as soon as our next course is available to book. Please drop us a line at spft.smc@nhs.net

Moment to pause - Free lunchtime mindfulness session
2026-02-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Work and life can feel so busy that you don’t have a spare moment to think, plan or just experience the moment. Join a one-hour lunchtime session to experience how mindfulness can bring space and new perspectives.

Overview

Mindfulness offers a chance to pause. It can help you manage stress and difficulties, reflect on what’s most important to you and learn how to take better care of yourself.

This one-hour lunch-time session will give you a pause in the day to experience the benefits of practicing mindfulness. You will be guided through the basic principles of mindfulness and will sample a range of different practices. Over time these practices can help you build the capacity to experience life differently. Mindfulness can work for you as an individual and for your team or service.

Who is it for?

These sessions are for you if you are:

Would like to take a moment to pause in the middle of the day.

Are returning to mindfulness and want a refresh / reminder about what is involved.

Completely new to mindfulness and meditation and want to try it out.

Where?

Online on Zoom

For all mindfulness work, the connection between people in the group is central to the discovery and learning process. Please ensure the camera on your device is turned on during the session and try your best to join from a quiet, private space, if possible. We’re aware that the session is during lunchtime. Feel free to bring something to eat during the discussion if you’d like.

Reserve your free place using the form below:

One-day online mindfulness retreat
2026-02-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Online
This one-day online mindfulness retreat offers an opportunity to extend and deepen your mindfulness practice, within a supportive environment.

Content of the day

This day will be facilitated by our experienced teachers and will include a series of different mindfulness and compassion practices. It will be held mostly in silence as a way of supporting your practice. As this retreat is online you will be given guidance about how to create retreat like conditions at home.

Why a one-day retreat?

A one-day mindfulness retreat is an important part of the eight-week mindfulness course. It also offers an opportunity to extend your practice within a supportive environment. For people who meditate regularly the retreat offers a great way to deepen and refresh your practice. Read more about the benefits of a day long retreat.

Who’s it for?

This online retreat is right for you if:

you are currently attending one of our eight-week mindfulness courses;

you have completed an eight-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Mindfulness for Life, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction or Finding Peace course with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre or elsewhere, or have an established mindfulness practice.

Please note, this is not a clinical intervention and it is not advisable to do this day in the heat of a crisis, when it would be important to access your GP or your designated mental health clinician.

Reserving your place

This retreat is free to attend. When you sign up, you’ll have the option to make a donation if you would like to and feel able. A suggested donation of £20 (or any amount you can afford) helps us offer mindfulness courses to communities who otherwise face barriers to taking part.

Attendance certificates

This all-day retreat counts towards the requirements to attend silent retreats as part of your BAMBA registration as a mindfulness teacher. Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day’s training, if requested.

For enquiries: spft.smc@nhs.uk

To secure your place you can book here:

Mindfulness for people living with dementia - Thursday mornings
2026-03-26 10:30 - 12:30 | Wayfield Resource Centre, 2 Wayfield Ave, Hove, Brighton and Hove, BN3 7LW, United Kingdom
This eight-week course enables people living with dementia to improve their quality of life. The course is designed to help improve wellbeing and give you the tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It is based on the original Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, which has a solid base of evidence that demonstrate it’s effectiveness.

Overview​

Living with dementia can be challenging at times. Dementia affects everybody differently, but it may increase the likelihood of anxiety, stress, and low-mood for some. You might have concerns about the future, about memory issues and about your relationships.

This eight-week mindfulness course has been adapted to make it more relevant for people living with dementia. It offers skills-based learning and tools to help you manage and respond to the day-to-day challenges you face in a more compassionate way. You may like to invite a loved one or someone who supports you to join you on this course. That way they can benefit from the course too, and you can do the home practice together. It’s always helpful to practice with someone else.

Who is it for?

This eight-week course has been adapted for people living with early-stage dementia. And you don’t need a diagnosis to sign up. You may invite a loved one or carer to attend with you, if that would be helpful and they would like to. Both of you will need to apply separately by filling in the form below.

This course is offered free. We only ask that you help us with a pre- and post evaluation so we can assess the impact of the course on your wellbeing. This will involve a pre- and post evaluation form, and we will be happy to provide support as needed.

When?

On Thursday mornings from 10.30am to 12.30pm from 26 March 2026 until 21 May 2026. This includes a pre-course orientation session on 26 March for you to decide if mindfulness is right for you. And the eight-week course starts the following weekon 2 April and runs until 21 May.

Where?

Wayfield Avenue Resource Centre, 2 Wayfield Avenue, BN3 7LD. We will provide transport details, maps and photos to you once your place on the course is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course involves:

Optional online pre-course meeting with a course facilitator.

Pre-course orientation on 26 March at 10.30am to decide if mindfulness is for you.

Eight weekly two hour in-person sessions including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises.

Daily home practice of up to 20 minutes.

The course involves mindfulness meditation practices in each group session, and recommended daily home practice. These practices will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for home practice. Links to the audio guidance will be shared by email. Please note CD’s won’t be avilable.

Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement. In the sessions, the mindfulness teachers will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again, this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people.

Before applying for this course it’s important to consider if this is the right time for you. And also that you are free to attend the pre-course orientation and all eight sessions. There will be some suggested daily home practice too. Many of us will need to carve out this time from the busyness of our daily routines, the various roles we play, as well as our habitual tendencies. For our own self-care it’s important to prioritise this time.

Facilitators

Lynn Ley

Lynn completed her training in Mindfulness Based interventions at Bangor University in 2010. She has been facilitating Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Groups (MBCT) within Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust since 2008.

Currently Lynn works with Sussex Mindfulness Centre providing supervision to trainee and trained mindfulness teachers, supporting the training team and providing competency assessments for trainees at the end of their training. Lynn has a long-standing personal meditation practice which she has found life-enhancing.

Julia Powell

Julia Powell is a mindfulness teacher and coach. She leads mindfulness courses to help people find more balance in their lives, improve their wellbeing and flourish. While caring for her mother who lived with dementia, Julia used her mindfulness practice to support both of them. She wrote a blog to share her experiences. She now draws on that experience in the training she offers to both carers of people living with dementia and people with mild to moderate dementia.

Having trained to teach with Oxford Mindfulness Centre, and taught with Sussex Mindfulness Centre, Julia is registered with BAMBA, the British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches.

How to apply

To apply you will need to fill in this application form. If you would like help filling in the form, or have any queries at all please contact us at spft.smc@nhs.net.

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for cancer: Masterclass
2026-04-16 09:30 - 16:30 | Online
An online day workshop for mindfulness teachers and those in training. Learning from the approach of working with people with cancer and those with life limiting or life threatening illness.

This workshop is led by Trish Bartley, an expert in this topic and author of MBCT for Cancer, Gently Turning Towards (Bartley, 2012), Mindfulness: A Kindly Approach to Being with Cancer (Bartley, 2017).

This masterclass will introduce you to the rewards and challenges of working mindfully with people who have had cancer, or life threatening / life limiting illness. You will be encouraged to transfer your learning from the MBCT for Cancer approach to your own mindfulness practice and teaching. We will particularly focus on:

Group process including inquiry

Brief everyday practices

Four Movements of Intention, Coming Back, Turning Towards and Kindness.

Working with the body and anxiety in the context of cancer / serious illness

Workshop format

The masterclass will be facilitated through a participative and experiential process, giving you lots of opportunities to try out practices, exercises and approaches, and reflecting on them in small groups. There will be an emphasis on offering a choice to engage in whatever is best for you and your learning. There will be some didactic process, but most ‘teaching’ will come out of the group process reflections, inquiries and exercises. We hope you will find the masterclass to be engaging, varied and easy to participate within a safe and inclusive group process.

There will be a focus on ensuring your learning is transferable across to your own teaching, whether you work with general public, workplace courses, offer drop in or short taster sessions, or within specialist courses for particular populations. However, this masterclass will not equip you to teach MBCT for Cancer directly – but hopefully it may whet your appetite to do so in the future!

Workshop content

We will explore a number of core practices, guided in ways that meet the needs of people who have sensitivities in different parts of the body and challenges in the heart mind. We will also bring horizontal and some vertical inquiry into our process following practice, to show ways of safely involving the whole group as we lean into a sense of normalising and common humanity.

People who have had cancer or serious illness are apt to experience significant anxiety and distress at times– and tend to fall into patterns of anxious rumination. We will look at a model of health anxiety that is central to week 4 in MBCT-Ca – and show how Turning Towards gently and gradually can be transformative, if held in a way that is grounded and embodied by the teacher.

If time, we will explore various curriculum exercises special to MBCT for Cancer that also work well with other populations. These will include ‘The Blob’ – that explores a way that contraction can build to amplify difficulty – and ‘The Sea of Reactions’ – another exercise within MBCT for Cancer that works well online and in person. You will also be able to experience for yourself the way that brief practices can be used in class and in everyday life.

Who is this for?

This masterclass is for anyone teaching mindfulness based programmes, whoever they teach – and those in training to teach Mindfulness Based Programmes. It is relevant to those who are experienced and those who are just beginning. It is not necessary to want to teach people with cancer or serious illness in order to benefit from this masterclass. The session will be led in a way that enables the learning from this approach to be as transferable as possible to whatever context you work in.

The facilitator

Trish Bartley

Trish Bartley

Trish Bartley has been teaching mindfulness to people with cancer since 2001 – working clinically in a North Wales hospital (and the local community) for over twenty years. She was supervised by John Teasdale for many years to adapt, tailor and publish MBCT for people with cancer. (Bartley, 2012). Later she wrote and published a book for people with cancer themselves Mindfulness: A kindly approach for people with cancer (Bartley, 2017). Trish has also co-written Teaching Mindfulness Based Groups (Bartley & Griffith, 2022) and is currently finishing Mindfulness and Cancer, an update book to the MBCT for Cancer programme, which will come out next year.

Trish teaches for Mindfulness Network and Oxford in the UK, several European mindfulness training organisations, and sometimes further afield such as in China and South Africa. This includes general mindfulness pathway trainings, specialist training around cancer, groupwork training, and leading retreats, and offering supervision.

Certificates

This masterclass is valid for ongoing personal development in mindfulness. Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day’s training, if requested.

How to book

You can book for your ticket for this masterclass here.

As part of our equity, diversity and inclusion policy, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net.

We are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles, please let us know so we can support you.

Mindfulness for living with cancer: Eight-week course - Thursday evenings
2026-04-16 18:30 - 21:00 | Online
This eight-week course uses mindfulness as a tool for self-care to support those living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. It is designed to help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It is based on the original ground-breaking Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course.

Overview​

Receiving a cancer diagnosis, undergoing treatments and living with the ongoing possibility of a recurrence, however great or small, is a life-changing experience – things will never be ‘the same as they were before’. However, this is the hope and expectation of those around us, particularly once active treatment has come to an end. This can leave us feeling isolated, unheard and plagued by thoughts of ‘what if’.

In this eight-week mindfulness course, written specifically for those living with a cancer diagnosis by leading practitioner in the field, Trish Bartley, we explore our daily experiences. This is not counselling, but is skills-based learning that offers tools to help you work in a more skilful and compassionate way with the day-to-day challenges we face.

Participants welcome talking about the impact of cancer on their daily life with others ‘who get it’ as opposed to friends and family. They are engaged by learning what this thing called ‘mindfulness’ is and how each of us can apply it in our daily lives, as a form of self-care.

Attendance at all eight sessions of the course is crucial, as is the commitment to 30 minutes of daily home practice. Many of us will need to carve out this time from the busyness of our daily routines, the various roles we play, as well as our habitual tendencies. There maybe 101 reasons why we may not be able to commit to this. But then we may also ask, ‘if not now, when?’ Maybe this is the time to prioritise our own self-care.

Who is it for?

This eight-week course is designed for both those living with and beyond the cancer diagnosis, be it a recent diagnosis or many years ago, as well as others also affected. This includes partners, family members, carers and friends.

All active, hospital-based treatment needs to have been completed, and participants will need the physical and mental presence to gain the best from the course. Each applicant will have 45-minute one-to-one meeting with the course tutor, Chris Barker, to discuss their unique situation and hopes for the course. This helps ensure that this is the ‘right time’ for such a significant undertaking, and to ensure the hopes / expectations are in line with what this course typically offers. No charge will be made for those who do not progress with the course following this meeting.

When?

Every Thursday evening from 6.30-9pm, starting on 16 April 2026 and concluding on 4 June 2026. An optional half-day retreat will take place from 10am to 2.30pm on Sunday 24 May 2026.

Where?

The course and retreat are both online.

You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course involves:

One-to-one pre-course meeting lasting 45-minutes with the course tutor Chris Barker.

Eight weekly two and a half hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises.

Optional half-day retreat, lasting four and a half hours.

Daily meditation home practice of 30 minutes.

The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and the same period of recommended daily home practice. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Links to the audio guidance will be shared by email, along with weekly notes, which together provide a rich resource during and after the course. Please note: no CD’s or paper copies will be provided.

Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement. In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again, this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. These discussions will be in Zoom break-out rooms.

NB: For all mindfulness work, the connection between the people in the group is central to the discovery and learning process, so please keep the camera on throughout each session. Sessions will not be recorded.

Facilitator

Chris Barker

Chris came to mindfulness as a stressed Head of PE in a large secondary school. Despite his initial reservations that it was just “yoga and meditation, that I couldn’t see myself doing” he was persuaded by colleagues to give it a try. It changed his life. Not overnight, but by allowing every drop of mindfulness, squeezed into every frantic day, to permeate through his previously sceptical being!Now, Chris predominantly shares mindfulness with people living with cancer and their carers and leads on this both for the National Centre of Integrative Medicine as well as providing support for fellow teachers via BAMBA.

How to book

Please note, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an an application form that will be sent to the facilitator. Click this link for the form. We will send applicants the booking link when it goes live.

If you have any queries please contact us at spft.smc@nhs.net.

The cost of the eight-week course is £250. We also offer a choice of two other options:

£275 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.

£225 – Supported rate, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the general admission price.

As part of our equity, diversity and inclusion policy, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net.

We are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles, please let us know so we can support you.

Mindful Self-Compassion course: eight weeks on Saturday mornings
2026-04-18 09:30 - 12:00 | Online
Our eight-week Mindful Self-Compassion course teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to challenges and difficult emotions with care and understanding.

Overview​

Research has shown that self-compassion greatly enhances emotional wellbeing. It boosts happiness, reduces anxiety and depression, and can even help maintain healthy lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise. Being both mindful and compassionate leads to greater ease and wellbeing in our daily lives. Find out more about our Mindful Self-Compassion course here.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for the general public, you do not need to have attended a mindfulness course before. Please note, this courses may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service.

When?

Saturday mornings 09.30 to 12.00. There is an orientation session on 18 April. The eight-week course starts on 25 April and runs until 13 June 2026 without a break.

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

Two-and-a-half-hour orientation session.

Eight further weekly two-and-a-half-hour classes including mindful self-compassion practices, discussion and exercises.

The course follows the programme outlined in the Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. It is recommended that you buy this book to accompany the course, but it’s not essential.

Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes.

Facilitator

Paul Johanson

Paul Johanson is a social worker, mindful self-compassion teacher and cognitive analytic therapist in private practice. He has worked in many areas of health and social care, including criminal justice, substance misuse, serious mental illness, psychological therapies, cancer and palliative care. He has worked as a strategic leader for the NHS in implementing national programmes in mental health, psychological therapies and patient experience. Paul is a long-term Buddhist practitioner, beginning his journey nearly 40 years ago in the Rinzai Zen Buddhist tradition, and has been a student in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism since 1991. He was the Buddhist Chaplain at the University of Sussex from 2013 to 2025.

How to book

Please note, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form here that will be sent to the facilitator. If you haven’t already, please head here to the fill in the form.

The cost of the eight-week course is £300. We also offer a choice of two other options:

£325 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.

£275 – Supported rate, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the general admission price.

As part of our equity, diversity and inclusion policy, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net.

We are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles, please let us know so we can support you.

You can book here below
